Match Report 2001-2002

Saturday 16 February, 2002, Division One

Wolverhampton Wanderers Away

Not just like old times

In some ways this was the game that the 3-2 two and a half years ago should have been. Wolves had all the ball and eventually made that possession pay. City held out until fifteen minutes from time with the home side looking either patient or clueless. City created a single chance and looked like making the most of it for a long time.

What marked the City team that won promotion here out from other's who have worn the claret and amber was the core of self belief. It seemed back then that City could not help but win, that as long as the game went on City would eventually take the game. One thinks back to the 2-1 against Crystal Palace in that season where Peter Beagrie waited until the last minute to make his mark, a penalty in the dying seconds. Perhaps Wolves had that sort of patience.

Half an hour gone and Simon Grayson powers a run down the right and cuts back the ball to Ashley Ward six yards out who takes a Blake-esque side step to the right and fires into the bottom corner. Ward is being linked with a free to Barnsley. This goal takes Ward's record this season to ten in twenty in a team that struggles, which on the surface seems impressive. There are those who would argue that a significant part of why City are struggling that Ward is not suited to the role he plays. As far back as the game with Leeds at Valley Parade in the Premiership when Stan Collymore scored his overhead kick it was clear that Ward was not the target man that Chris Hutchings wanted. Tall yes, target man no.

However Ward is decent when the ball in put into him and he does not need to turn to face goal. That was his goal today and that was Ashley Ward's answer to his critics.

After City scored Alan Combe began to come into his own. A rifled shot from distance was save acrobatically, a corner lead to an overhead kick that Combe saved. The Dundee United shot stopper looks a very capable keeper. Like Gary Walsh his great strength is his positioning. Matt Clarke used to look very impressive with dives headlong across the goal, Walsh never had to, we was just there. Combe is from that school of goalkeeping. When he has to move he is athletic enough, as he proved turning away a header from increasing Wolves pressure just before half time to allow City to take a lead in at halt time 1-0.

Obviously Wolves came out after a rollocking from Dave Jones but less obviously City's back four, so often the weakness of the side this year, repelled a series of corners. Wolves became nervous, Andy Myers nicked a bad pass and freed Gareth rant who surged forward, his pace perhaps being his only great attribute, but using it well. Grant could square to Ashley Ward but ended up winning a corner and for a time it seemed like City were a team with a plan. Solid back line, a midfield that will put it's foot in, pace in attack to stretch the game out deeper into the Wolves half than is normal for City sides. City as the current kings of the counter attack Liverpool, McCall and Locke as Gerrard and Harmann, Gareth Grant as Michael Owen.

Perhaps Wolves had not been aware of the analogy. Indeed until the start of the second half Wolves had not seemed aware of much. It has been said that the glorious gold are a sleeping giant. For the most of the game to this point they had simply been sleeping. Colin Cameron, who Jim Jefferies and Paul Jewell both converted for City, warmed Alan Combe's hands with a rasping drive from thirty yards as the home side slumbered. Two minutes later and Carmeron was mugged in midfield by Gary Locke. Woken the Wolves may have been, but they had sleep in their eyes. They slept when Stuart McCall lobbed the back four for Gareth Grant to run on to, had Grant had a first touch to speak of it would have been 2-0.

15 minutes left and City's defence gave. Simon Grayson, who had enjoyed a decent debut, gave the ball away cheap on the wing and a Mark Kennedy cross was finished in the middle by Dean Sturridge. Andy Myers twice denied Kenny Miller goals. Gareth Grant broken fell over, won a free kick that McCall fed to Andy Tod who headed back to Ward who was crunched by Paul Butler as he looked for a winner. Penalty perhaps, or Jon Dreyer-esque clearance.

Shaun Newton provided Wolves a highlight, jinking running and hitting a shot in off a post. It felt harsh but the home side had dominated in the second half.

Juanjo came on and looked like a man possessed, if only with the spirit of Benito Carbone. He moved and tricked around the box but to no avail. Dean Sturridge was felled by Andy Tod in injury time for a penalty. Sturridge scored.

So what of Bradford City in this time of comparisons? Nicky Law seems to have taken on the problems with the backline. Andy Tod still is too casual and gives away too any free kicks. Andy Myers still looks a little like Edinho playing sweeper, but together it work well most of the time. David Wetherall and/or Ian Breckin may make it work much better. Two and a half years ago Stuart McCall dragged a team to promotion. He still would too, if his body will let him. Certainly on a day like today Wolves looked like a team in need of a McCall to get them going, for that reason alone Stuart is worth keeping about. When one takes into account that despite his advancing years McCall twice diddled the Wolves back four with lobs that Gareth Grant should have made more of, he is worth keeping on the field too.

The need for more of a punch up front is obvious. Gareth Grant needs to be bigger yes, but he also needs to know how to use what strength he had to his advantage. His shielding, so needed in counter attacking football, is very poor. Ward is passable if one ignores his £18,000 a week. The midfield needs more width.

Overall though one feels the same about City now as one did in the season before the one that ended at Wolves and glory. This is a team that could go either way. Astute signings and good man management to get the best out of what we have could make something of this team, but there is a feeling that the team is going backwards.

Man of the Match

Andy Myers

Looked very good for most of the game.

City Team:

Combe
Grayson Tod Myers Jacobs
Lawrence Locke McCall Whalley
Ward Grant

Subs: Eoin Jess for Gareth Grant, Juanjo for Gareth Whalley.